I really think that in my case, a lot of it had to do with self-medicating. I would NEVER not be high if I could get my hands on anything!!! Now that I'm on meds, I'm not even tempted to drink or do drugs. Or to abuse the drugs I have!!! I have bottles of benzos and all kinds of knockout drops that I would have happily been gobbling in the old days.

not addicted to alcohol but percocet, klonopin, and ativan currently have me by the nutsack

Cocaine, was completely self medicating for years.

Meth addict of 24 years clean now almost 13.

I was a pot smoker for years, stopped over a month ago. I really miss it though! I felt better while smoking than I do on meds. Had a med increase and feel worse than before the increase. Debating on going back to smoking. I also have a nicotine addiction. I have tried other drugs, but never became addicted. The doctor says it takes 4-6 wks for the meds to take effect. I am eating zanax like crazy to try to help my moods. Just seems I am becoming more and more down. Meds do not make the bad situations and hard times go away. Wish I had a means of doing that!

I am a drug addict and an alcoholic, addicted to eating, shopping, nicotine, and what ever else I do.

I don't think people with BP are more prone to addiction than the general population. For instance hypersexuality and sex addiction are two very different things. And I doubt the percentage of alcoholics with BP is larger than it is in the general population. It may even be less.

I don't consider myself addicted to my medication, I just know that the healthiest thing for me is to take meds every day. Is a diabetic addicted to insulin?

You say - "If I get depression I tend to start up doing drugs to break it, i just can't take depression." Well, isn't that what medication is for? I use the to ease the depression and other symptoms of my illness.

I would never tell my doc to take me off my meds because I am "addicted" to them - I understand that just like the diabetic I will need medication for the rest of my life. And I am so glad I am able to get it.

Being the parent of two kids both with food addiction issues I have to say that yes food addiction is as real as drugs, nicotine, gambling, sex ect and to minimize it is an unjust to those trying to over come it.

my favourite self-medication used to be red wine, a bottle or three at a time.

This is very interesting to me, thanks Michael for bringing it up and thanks to everyone who has replied.

I was addicted to pot and alcohol for the better part of two years. Been clean and sober now for five years. Looking back, I can clearly see that I was self-medicating, but the pot (usually laced with something) made my illness worse (I just couldn't see that at the time). I would get really high and drunk and have what I called "gnosis sessions" in which I would communicate with demons to gain knowledge. I did that for a long time...and it seriously near killed me. Now that I've given my life to Jesus, I no longer even attempt to contact ANY spirit other than the Holy Spirit.

I am currently working in a program called Celebrate Recovery. It's a Christian based alcohol and drug recovery program. I'm training to become a small group leader. I see the people there (most are from drug court) and can't help but ask myself how many of them have an underlying mental illness.

I do believe that Bipolar Disorder and drug/alcohol addiction are related.

Sorry for the novel, just thought I'd share my story.

My bday is Nov.2, 2011....(clean date)
Drugs (pain killers) and alcohol. It was 1 or the other for me. Not both at once.
I self medicate hard core. But like I said, clean now for going on 5 months. Ya me!!!!!!
Congrats to those on the road to recovery and prayers for those who still suffer.

MageMIcheal

There is a statistical connection between mental illness and addiction. The question is does one cause the other?

People who have a mental illness especially undiagnosed are more at risk for developing an addiction of some kind. But especially to street drugs as a way to "self" medicate.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071203090143.htm

I think Carla brought up a good point. Okay so sure we self medicate and often with drugs, but once we come back around and get on meds do we still have addictive personalities or not.
I do in part becasue I watched my dad and mom repeat the same patterns of addiction. I do a better job of controlling most of my addictions now but I still do some. I couldn't make it without my cups of coffee in the morning.Life is hard and even harder with BP and maybe that gives us more reasons to fill the voids with addictions. IDK but I'm curios to find out.

I gave up cannabis addiction just almost 6 months ago and alcohol about 5 months ago. I think BP caused me to be a periodic alcoholic and it runs in my family. I would try to calm down with alcohol and benzos.

Not sure how I feel about the cannabis having to go, but I think I am better off. Things are not easy right now and my meds are not working and I'm tired and wiped out as hell all the time lately, but it's something I needed to do for myself. I like having a clear head and I am not as depressed anymore, except for lately due to SSNRI crapping out.

I am also attending 12-step meetings and one with a Buddhist slant where they meditate. But lately I have not been going at all due to depression and barely functioning enough to get what I need done.

I wish they had more dual diagnosis meetings here. I am reading a book on dual diagnosis and the 12-twelve steps.

I am very well away that either episodes of mania or depression are what trigger my desire to escape and self-medicate with outside substances. I am trying to work through this. It is not easy.

I am wondering if we could start a dual diagnosis DS group - for those with mental illness and co-occurring addiction issues - for those who want to be free of addiction.